Promotion excites Kip

Kiprotich gets his pips from Byabashaija. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OTAGE

What you need to know:

All sport. Other sportsmen, including Olympian Janet Achola and mother of seven Irene Chemusto, raise in ranks following Kiprotich’s elevation.

Stephen Kiprotich will forever remember 2012. It has been a career-defining year for the 23-year-old runner. Besides clinching the country’s first Olympic gold medal in 40 years last month, Kiprotich became the first officer to rise from the rank of Warder to Assistant Superintendant of Prisons (ASP) in Uganda’s recent history.

The Olympic marathon champion was confirmed ASP on Friday, skipping seven ranks in prisons service. He will now earn about Shs1.2m monthly besides other privileges that come with the rank.

“This promotion means a lot to me and sportsmen in general,” Kiprotich, who received his pips from Internal Affiars minister Hilary Onek at Prisons headquarters in Luzira, said.

Shortly before the decoration, Johnson Byabashaija, the Commissioner General of Prisons (CGP) appealed to sports personalities in the force to work hard in order to climb ranks.

Thirty three other sportsmen, including Janet Achola, who also represented Uganda at the London Olympics, were elevated. The 1500m runner was promoted from Wardress to Chief Wardress.

National 10,000m women’s reigning champion Adero Nyakisi rose from Wardress to Matron while Irene Chemusto, one of the most consistent long distance runners in Uganda, got promoted from Wadress to Assistant Matron.

Darts player and athletics coach Dinah Amoding is now Principal Officer 2 having been promoted from Chief Wadress. Football coach Asaph Mwebaze was promoted to Principle Officer 2 from Warder.